Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Hardik Pandya for turning the fans who booed him during IPL 2024 in his favour with his performance in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win against Pakistan in New York. However, he was booed during IPL 2024 after he took over the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy from Rohit Sharma as well. Although he managed only seven runs off 12 deliveries against Pakistan before bowling an impressive spell of 2/24 in four overs to help India register a narrow six-run win as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Hardik Pandya – people booed him so much, and how life changes. I saw the entire ground shouting ‘Hardik, Hardik’ and a lot of love for him. Cricket is a great leveler. If you perform well, people who were abusing you will also praise you. They will pray for your success. I learned one thing that we Indians are extremely lucky. We have 140 crore people and whoever follows cricket, prays for you, even though they don’t know you. This is the biggest blessing. So Hardik Pandya has also turned that around. He has been outstanding.”
ALSO READ: Kirti Azad welcomes BCCI’s new directive in central contract
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya first dismissed the aggressive Fakhar Zaman brilliantly caught by Rishabh Pant off a bouncer. And, then similarly removed Shadab Khan. Aakash Chopra named Axar Patel an unsung hero for his all-round performance as well.
“I will once again want to talk about Axar Patel’s performance because he was an unsung hero. He came to bat at No. 4 and scored 20 runs. If you add Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja’s runs, and add (Virat) Kohli’s also to that, the five together scored 21, and Axar Patel made 20 at a number which is not his number. After that, picked up Usman Khan’s wicket. A wicket was not falling. You had tried all bowlers and he was the last bowler to be tried. Everyone remembers (Jasprit) Bumrah’s dismissal of (Mohammad) Rizwan and then Hardik Pandya, but the 16th over, it was a negative match-up, Imad Wasim was standing, and he bowled a two-run over. I think he was absolutely sensational,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
